The sentence: 25 to life

San Diego's brimming with food-to-die-for, our judges deliver their verdicts

Not stuffed yet? For a look at more things to eat in San Diego before you die, log on to 50things.signonsandiego.com. We welcome your suggestions, so leave us a note.

There are five basic tastes: Bitter. Salty. Sweet. Sour. And the universally inexplicable Umami. So, we squared that number, and whammo! “25 Things to Eat in San Diego Before You Die” was born.

It's a new year, and this year you had better live your culinary life to the fullest, right? Throw calorie caution to the wind, slip into that extra-large Charger jersey, and use the following San Diego-centric menu as a chowhound checkoff list.

Because we've all got to eat.

1. Cap'n Crunch Pancakes at Cafe on Park: The corny flapjacks take you back to the days of Saturday morning cartoons and serve as a reminder that when working in the realm of pancake science, one should always step into the shoes of a 5-year-old. At 3831 Park Blvd., Hillcrest; (619) 293-7275

— DERRIK CHINN

2. Scones at Rebecca's Coffeehouse: The varieties are many – walnut, chocolate tangerine, apple cinnamon, raspberry – but what make these scones irresistible are the crunchy exteriors encasing tender, buttery interiors. At 3015 Juniper St., South Park; (619) 284-3663

— LORI WEISBERG

3. Birchirmuesli at Newbreak Coffee: The mixture of yogurt, oats, apples, grapes and walnuts almost fulfills the requirements for each of the four food groups. At 1959 Abbott St., Ocean Beach; (619) 224-6666.

— ALANA SEIFI

4. The Whoopi Goldberg at Big Kitchen: A down-on-her-luck comedian once washed dishes at this breakfast/lunch haunt. Her signature (on the wall) and signature dish remain: two eggs, four pieces of bacon and grilled potatoes. At 3003 Grape St., South Park; (619) 234-5789.

— KELI DAILEY

5. Ricotta Pancakes at Farmhouse Cafe: The pancakes are made with citrus segments and served with orange butter. Be sure to augment them with an order of the muy tasty pumpkin bread. At 2121 Adams Ave., University Heights; (619) 269-9662.

7. Squid sandwich at Point Loma Seafood: Freshly fried calamari strips with just the right degree of chewiness are tucked between slices of sourdough and slathered with tartar sauce. The only downside is that if you eat outside, sea gulls may make a play for your lunch. At 2805 Emerson St., Point Loma; (619) 223-1109.

— MARGARET KING

8. Cheeseburger at Hodad's: The perfect, messy burger for a summer afternoon. The rowdy atmosphere only adds to the fun of the burger's oozy cheese and hefty tomatoes spilling into your basket of fries. At 5010 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach; (619) 224-4623.

— NINA GARIN

9. Roasted Squash Soup With Maker's Mark and Molasses Créme at Confidential: Some say making a great soup is the true test of a chef, and executive chef Richard Sweeney deserves an A-plus. The Maker's Mark créme makes this soup unique and special. At 901 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter; (619) 696-8888.

— TOVIN LAPAN

10. Brodetto Siciliano at Vivace: This soup is a cacophony of flavors and textures. Made from calamari, tomatoes, caper berries, pine nuts, dried currants and fregola (little pasta pearls), it is sweet, salty, starchy, fleshy, crunchy, chewy and silky, all in one bowl. At the Four Seasons Resort Aviara, Carlsbad; (760) 603-6800.

12. Cauliflower Smashers at The Oceanaire Seafood Room: A pricey place, but this is very reasonable side dish that's almost a meal in itself – steamed, cut-up cauliflower with parmesan. At 400 J St., Gaslamp Quarter; (619) 858-2277.

— GEORGE VARGA

13. Moules Frites at Vagabond: This is French bistro fare at its best. The steamed mussels float in a creamy, flavorful broth of white wine, celery, shallots, garlic, white pepper and thyme, finished off with créme fraiche. Just as good are the accompanying slender, crispy fries, served in a paper cone. At 2310 30th St., South Park; (619) 255-1035.

— LORI WEISBERG

14. Boeuf Bourguignon at La Bonne Bouffe: I can't spell it without help from my “Food Lover's Companion,” but I know how to lap it up with appreciation. Nobody can hold a candle to this homey version of the classic country-style stew, with its meltingly tender cubes of beef and carrots swimming in rich red-wine sauce. The puff pastry vache perched on top is cute – and tasty – too. At 471 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas; (760) 436-3081.

19. Grilled Mahi-Mahi Taco at South Beach Bar and Grill: This institution, just steps away from the pier, is known for its fish tacos in general, but the grilled mahi-mahi is the perfect combination of flavors: smoky, cool, light and creamy. At 5059 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach, (619) 226-4577.

— TOVIN LAPAN

20. Stone-pot Bibimbap at Chon Ju Jip: This Korean meal-in-a-bowl is cooked just like grandma used to make it, on a bed of rice slowly crisping in a stone pot with vegetables and a raw egg drenched in chili paste. At 4373 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa; (858) 268-0835.

— DERRIK CHINN

21. Yellowtail Sashimi at Nobu: The yellowtail, delectable on its own, is elevated by the addition of yuzu, soy sauce, jalapeno and cilantro. At the Hardrock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave., downtown; (619) 814-4124.

23. White Room Pizza at Alexander's: Named for the restaurant's all-white decor, this 13-inch pizza is a comforting medley of ricotta, mozzarella, basil, chicken and pesto. Sitting in the center is a whole head of roasted garlic that you can smear on the pizza. At 3391 30th St., North Park; (619) 281-2539.

25. Cinnamon rolls at Bread & Cie: While this bakery is known for its terrific breads, it's the cinnamon rolls that keep me coming back. Unlike traditional buns that drown in gooey icing, these are made with multiple layers of thin dough for a light, flaky texture. Topped with an orange-infused icing, these oversized buns are positively addictive. At 350 University Ave., Hillcrest; (619) 683-9322.